Blog Award

Lady Gwen of Run Gwen, Run! Write Gwen, Write!  issued me the Sweetest Blog Award and the Roaring Lion Blog Award back in September 2011.  I’m embarrassed to say that it has taken me this long to accept my award. But as the saying goes, “better late than never.”  So here it is.  It is now my duty to pass on the torch and award other bloggers this award. 

Roaring Lion Blog Award

First, here is the history of the Roaring Lion Blog Award.  This award originated on September 1, 2011 by Gracie of I Am Writer...Hear Me Roar! 

Gracie is a 17-year-old Canadian who loves to read and write.  She describes herself a rebel of sorts and decided to create her own award to honor all those who are "awesome." 

The thing about this award is that there are no rules.   Her generous heart opened the award for others to give freely and acknowledge anyone who they feel should be recognized without limitations.  All Gracie ask is that you post the picture.  After all, she made it herself with Paint.  So the effort deserves some recognition, don't you think?

Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award

I'm sorry that I have no idea who started the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award.  But the cake looks sweet and irresistible.  So how can I resist not passing along the award.  This one has rules.  Here it is:

1. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to some of your own deserving blog friends.
4. Contact those friends and let them know. 

This is the first time sharing random facts about myself.  And I’m finding that this exercise is a lot of fun.  It allows me to reflect on my past and my nuisances. Thanks again, Lady Gwen, for the awards!

7 things about me:

1. I took my first swim lesson (ever!) in 2010. 
2. I’m a military (Navy) brat.  But I've never moved around much like most military families.  We pretty much stayed put in Hawaii….sad.  I know. 
3. I used to be a hula dancer for tourist in Waikiki.
4. I wrinkle my nose (like Samantha on Bewitched, played by Elizabeth Montomery...or Nicole Kidman for you younger generations) as a habit without even realizing it. If only I could do magic with my nose!
5. I love cheese.  All types of cheese- hard cheese and soft cheese.  And even stinky cheese! But no artificial cheese please.
6. I was in the movie Jade, starring David Caruso as an extra.  You can see the back of my head in one of the scenes.  In the 1996 TV Movie, “Lying Eyes,” you can see the front of my head.
7. Some people will say I’m shy.  I’m not.  I’m just quiet.  There’s a difference.

Okay, enough about me.  Let's hear about you.  

And the Award goes to…

• Praying Runner is a journal of one man's reflections, thoughts, prayers, and running.  Praying Runner has dedicated all of his runs in memory of his loving wife.  Read about his inspiring journey to run 50 marathons by age 50 as he spreads hope and the power of prayer. 
• Next Stop: Our House  Where the food is good and the company is better. Formerly of Feeding My Competitive Soul, she shares with us anecdotes, her workouts, home projects, and healthy recipes.
• One Mile More.  Here is an inspiring pictorial journal of a runner...a Marathon Maniac!  Mohan has been a team captain for Team In Training for 5 seasons and has ran numerous races- 31+ races in just 2011 alone.

Please stop by their blogs and find out more about them.

Got Water? [Poll Results]

In my October 5, 2011 post, GOT WATER? I wrote about how surprised I was to see many runners running on a hot day without any water.  So I decided to take a poll to study the habits of runners regarding hydration on their run.   Here are the results.

1) Do you carry water when you run?

                44% said always

                44% said sometimes      

                11% said never

2) What is the minimum number of miles you will run in order for you to bring water?

                40% said they will carry water when running less than 4 miles

                15% said they will carry water when running a minimum of 5 miles

                30% said they will carry water when running a minimum of 8 miles

                15% said they will carry water when running a minimum of 11 miles

3)  Which of these running events, where water stops are provided will you carry water with you anyway?

                30% will carry water with them at a 5k   

                46% will carry water with them at a 10k run

                69% will carry water with them at a half marathon

                76% will carry water with them at a marathon event

These findings are not conclusive due to the small number of participants in my study.  But it gives me a general idea about the habits of the running community. 

My study shows that there is a small percentage of people who do not run with water.  So that means, that on that one hot day when I went out for a run, I was looking at the small percentage of runners who did not carry water on their run.  But those who do carry water will carry it even on shorter runs.  After more thought, I realize that the answer to this question could all depend on the type of runner you are.  

A further study would be to ask the participants what their experience level is (beginner, casual, competitive), the number of days a week the runner runs, and their average mileage per day. This would probably provide me with a more interesting analysis.

As for the third question, the longer the race, the more likely athletes will bring their own water.  This is what I expected.  It probably has to do with the competitive nature of these races versus the casual run.  If you are running hard, you definitely need to hydrate.  And if you are going for time, you'd rather keep your pace than take the time to stop at a water stop.

So what is the importance of this poll?  Nothing really.  It's just to satisfy my curiosity.  But what I did learn is that everyone runs his or her own race.  So don't worry about what people are doing.  You run in a way that is perfect for you.  You know what makes you comfortable so do what is best for you and not what everyone is doing or tells you to do. 

I am Running-girl and I wear 3/4 length capris, no matter what the weather conditions is.  I always wear a cap, even on a cloudy day.  And I always carry a water bottle, even on a short 3-mile run.  So be it.  Be your own YOU!

~Happy Running

               

Guest Blogger- 11-y.o. Markus

I want to introduce to you my 11-year-old son, Markus.  He will be my guest blogger for today's post.  Like me, he is an avid runner.  He is a member of his school's track team and has qualified for the Hershey's Regional Track and Field Games in California 3 years in a row.  He enjoys both sprint and long distance running.   His first 5k was on May 9, 2010, Mother's Day- his gift to me.  Since then, he's become quite the runner, placing in the top 3 in his age group in all of his 5k events.  And this year, he joined his first cross country team.

Markus suffers from asthma.  But it hasn't stopped him from enjoying the sport he loves.  

Below is a paper he wrote as a school assignment that I want to share with you.  

How to Go Out for a Run

(The Right Way)

By Markus Guittap

     “You gotta get outta that couch and go for a run sometime.” You have probably heard this saying before, but have probably ignored it because you feel you have better things to do like sit at your computer desk.  All you need is a little encouragement and instructions.  I can help you. You will learn what to do before the run, during the run, and what to do after you are sweating and panting. Well, what are you waiting for, move to the next paragraph!

       So, you finally decided to run. You have your shoes untied, and you are wearing clothes appropriate for the weather. I would dress a little less because while you’re running, you may-I mean will get all hot and sweaty. And you will be spurting sweat like a water fountain if you dress like it is winter. But you don’t want to under dress because, well, that is disturbing. If you are appropriately dressed, then go to where you want to run!

         You are all ready to run, right? Wrong. There are some more small, but oh, so important steps to do before your run. One of those steps is to do a short, slow jog.  No, this isn't considered a run.  The jog is to loosen up your muscles for the second step. That second step is...  stretching! I hate stretching, but I know it is good for me. It is good for you too. You never want to pull a muscle. It is three days of nothing but pain and icing your injured muscle.

          I know a stretch to make sure you don't pull a muscle. Place your foot against a sturdy vertical object with your heel on the ground and your toes flat on the wall, curb,etc. Now bend your knee towards the wall. Doing this stretches your calf. You may look up more stretches when you can. Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for...

         It's time to run! Start off at a nice, easy pace. Don't go out too fast and use a lot of your energy. You have a lot more to run. You can gradually increase your speed a little bit later, but keep a steady pace. Don't worry about other people around you. Focus on your own run. Focus on your breathing. Breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth. Breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth. Try to make your breathing in sync with your steps, like for every 3 steps, inhale or exhale, whichever is necessary. It is okay if you have to stop and drink water (which you brought, right?). When nearing the end of your run, try to use the remaining of your energy to go faster to the finish. This is called a "kick". Do this to either burn more calories, or get a higher place in a race. There is still one last thing to do before you go home.

          Your last step is to...run some more!  Not really.  Well, maybe...yes.  You have to do more running.  Stop, before you break into tears, let me say this.  This is an easy slow jog.  It doesn't hurt.  You are basically doing what you did before you started your run.  It isn't hard.  Just do a short, cool down jog and stretch.  I hope you enjoyed your run!

          I love running a lot.  I have asthma so, me running proves that with a breathing disability, I can still run well.  Some say running is boring and time-wasting.  I think running is fun, and it brings the family together.  It brought my family together.  We all like to sign up for short races, usually 3 miles, as a family.  Running is my favorite sports to do.  It can be enjoyed by all ages.  So what are you waiting for?  Run again! (Just kidding...unless you want to.)

                              

Take a Look

When you're driving and you see a runner, do you turn your head to take a look?  I do.  It's a weird habit of mine.  I can't help but look at every runner I pass by in my car.  What am I looking at?

I look at their gait, their pace, their brand of running shoe, and their accessories.  I like to see whether or not they are wearing their iPhone, iPod, Garmin, water pack, cap or visor.  Sometimes I like to guess if the person is a casual or a competitive runner in training by what they wear and how they run.  It's like browsing through a running magazine, only live!

During the winter months, my running is scarce.  I usually run after work, but now that the sun goes down at 5PM I haven’t been running.  In December, my kids are on vacation and at home with me so I rarely have time to run.  So it is this time that I notice my looks turn into a gaze. 

"I wish that were me running right now," I'd say in admiration as I drive down the highway towing my kids around.  And when I see a runner in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, I shake my head and mutter, "That's dedication."

If you’re like me and have been on a hiatus, don’t fret.  Remind yourself that it is only temporary.  This is a time to refresh, refuel, recover, and re-energize yourself for your next running season.  For now, it’s okay to “look” at what others are doing.  Let them be your source of inspiration.

So if you see a woman in a silver Honda Pilot with boys in the back seat, staring at you, don't be alarmed.  I'm not a stalker.  I'm just a person yearning to be running...instead of driving.  And it could be YOU who inspires me to run with a pink skort.  It could be YOU who inspires me to run barefoot.  It could be YOU who inspires me to start running today!

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Ever wondered what to do with your old or unused running shirts?

If you’re like me, you don’t want to throw your shirts away because it is a reminder of your run event and your accomplishment.  The site of my shirts is like walking down memory lane.  I could pick out any one of my shirts and tell you the weather, my finishing time, and the challenges I faced during that particular race.  So the best thing to do is to turn your old t-shirts into something new. 

I've seen running shirts transformed into a quilted blanket or pillow.  But my friend Christine had a better idea.  She took my old, barely worn t-shirts and turned it into a scarf!

Turning your shirts into a scarf is not only fun and useful; it’s a great conversation piece you can take with you wherever you go.  It’s a story on a scarf!

 

Visit Christine’s blog to view more of her cool ideas of transforming something old into something new.  http://www.sewingandripping.blogspot.com/

If you pay her a visit, be sure to say Running-girl sent you! 

I interrupt this blog for an important message...

Hello everyone,
As you know, I love to run.  But what you may not know is that I like to write...not just blogs, but children's stories.  A lot of my stories and ideas transpires on my run.  The longer the run, the better the flow of my creative juices.

Anyway, I am writing to ask for your support.  My story, Funny Face, qualified for the MeeGenius author challenge.    The winning author gets a publishing contract, $1500 cash, and a MeeGenius library donated to the school of my choice.  Please visit MeeGenius, read my story, and "like" it.  But you have to hurry.  Voting ends December 18.  Please feel free to share with your friends!

Thank you so much for your support!
~Happy running...and reading!

Mentoring

It’s not uncommon for runners to lose the enthusiasm that once engulfed them when they first started running.  I've been there.  You can read about my dilemma in previous posts:  The Running Blahs, Confessions of a Runner, The Running Routine

So how do we make it exciting again?  You can play running games...with yourself; or you can mentor a new runner.  Here's how:

Go find someone to mentor.  You’ve heard it from family members, co-workers, and friends,

“I wish I could run.”

Take that as an invitation to lend your running experience. Encourage him or her to run and be the mentor you wished you had when you first started.  As a mentor you are there to motivate, inspire, and encourage.  

Discuss goals.  It can be as simple as running a mile without stopping to running their first marathon.  Set up a schedule to run together regularly.  You'll find that the accountability to each other will motivate you to get out and run even when you don't feel like it.  Your role as mentor will give you a new sense of being and give new life to your running.  Try it! 

Take the challenge and I promise you you’ll find your enthusiasm again.